The Team, Always!

Two distinct ideas, two identities. One completely overshadowed the other. Spain didn't even need their biggest star, who arrived at the World Cup not in peak condition, to be decisive. Even when he drew the penalty from Digne, it was more Digne's naivety than the young prodigy's brilliance. Just pure cunning. Yamal caused some headaches, and that was all that was required.

The Roja, as always, wanted their possession-based game. With it, they dictated the terms of play, minimizing situations where they could be vulnerable. Without the ball, they were aggressive, activating their counter-press to win it back, but above all, they were shielded. Rodri never lost sight of the tournament's best French player, Olise, and their collective effort successively nullified Dembélé, Mbappé, and Barcola (and later Doué and Cherki). Unai Simón was outstanding in controlling depth. And allow me to once again highlight Olmo. He plays as if he always has something to prove, and he does so with relish.

Les Bleus didn't leave the pitch without hearing jeers. And, while not pleasant, they deserved them. There was no urgency. Their genius was completely stifled. The team with the highest density of talent per chromosome, the overwhelming favorite, fell to a consolidated style of play that, from time to time, resurfaces with slightly different alleles to conquer the world again.

At home, within their own borders, the French watched a Spaniard lead PSG to a continental double. But there's no Luis Enrique, a true architect, in manager Deschamps. The national coach will always have 2018 and his chapter in history, even if he has often missed out on glory without consequence. Zidane will come and inherit a Golden Generation to work with. Mbappé, in a few weeks, will return to Madrid, but not as a hero. To a team dependent on individual brilliance, albeit with a new coach. And a very collective idea at the top of the ecosystem: Barcelona.